Elections and Voter Registration

Delta Township Election Center

Election InformationElections are handled through the Delta Township Clerk’s Office. In order to vote in any election in Michigan, you must be 18 years of age on or before Election Day, and you must be registered to vote 30 days prior to the election.

Offices, classified under political elections would be as follows: president, vice-president, senator, congressman, governor, secretary of state, attorney general, house representative, state senator, county offices, and township offices, just to name a few. If you would like information on the election process, please call the Clerk’s Office at 517-323-8500.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day.

New Election Equipment for 2018 Elections

Delta Township has received our new election tabulators and ADA equipment. The new equipment was purchased from Hart Intercivic from Austin, Texas. Open Houses will be scheduled in 2018 for our residents to see the new equipment prior to the 2018 election cycle. Look for more information in future Township magazines and at the Delta Township website at www.deltami.gov.

Hart Intercivic Digital Ballot Scanner/Tabulator

Hart Intercivic Touch Writer – Accessible Ballot Marking Device

2018 Election Dates

Election dates are set by Public Act 116 of 1954, Michigan Election Law. 2018 Election Dates are as follows:

Major parties and minor parties on the ballot; Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green, Natural Law, U.S. Taxpayers, and Working Class. When voting in General Elections voters should only cast votes for the number of candidates allowed under each office heading.

The General Election, scheduled both state and nationally, will be electing a new Governor for our state on November 6, 2018, along with many more partisan, and non-partisan offices. In a General Election, all major and minor parties will be represented on the ballot; Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green, Natural Law, U.S. Taxpayers, and Working Class parties are represented in Michigan and will be on the ballot. In General Elections, voters have the choice of voting for whichever candidate, and party, they choose under each office. The only restriction is, voters must vote for no more than the number of candidates allowed to be elected as identified under each office heading on the ballot. If the voter votes for more candidates than is allowed, the votes within that office will not count. In a precinct, if a voter does over-vote or makes any other mistake, the voter can notify an Election Inspector so the ballot can be spoiled and replaced to vote correctly. If you are voting by absent voter ballot please contact the Clerk’s Office at 323-8500. The voter will be instructed to seal the ballot in the ballot envelope and write SPOILED on the outside of envelope large enough to be seen clearly. The voter should return the ballot in person or by mail and a new ballot will be issued. If a resident expects to be out of the community on Election Day or needs any information regarding the upcoming election, please contact the Township Clerk’s Office at 323-8500.

Residents should refer to their voter identification card for proper precinct number and polling location. If your voter identification card has been lost, call the Clerk’s office to have a replacement card to be mailed. For questions regarding elections, please contact the Delta Township Clerk’s Office at 517-323-8500. Please visit the Secretary of State website for additional election information at www.michigan.gov/sos.

VotingTo vote, simply appear at your assigned polling precinct with photo identification on Election Day. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Your Voter Identification Card lists your precinct number and your assigned polling location. You will vote at the same precinct location for all elections conducted in Delta Township. If you do not receive a Voter Identification Card within three weeks after registering, contact your local clerk regarding your voter registration status. You may also check your status on the Michigan Voter Information Center website atwww.michigan.gov/vote.

Voter RegistrationVoter registration can be handled through the Secretary of State’s Office in Delta Township located at 8158 Executive Court (off Marketplace drive between Saginaw and St. Joe Highway), or at the Delta Township Clerk’s Office at 7710 W. Saginaw Highway. Updating your driver’s license at the Secretary of State’s Office or on-line atwww.michigan.gov/sos will also update your voter registration and will be electronically submitted to Delta Township. Once received by Delta a voter identification card will be sent.

Registering to Vote – First Time Voter in MichiganIf you have never voted in Michigan and register by mail or online through the Secretary of State website, you must appear in person to vote in the first election in which you wish to participate with identity confirming photo identification. This requirement does not apply if (1) you personally hand deliver the mail-in registration form to your county, city or township Clerk’s Office (2) you are 60 years of age or more (3) you are disabled or (4) you are eligible to vote under the Military and Overseas Citizens Voter Empowerment Act – “Move Act”.

Change of AddressIf you move you must update your address. This can be handled by the Clerk’s Office, or at any Secretary of State Branch office. Whenever you move to a new city or township or move within your current city or township, even if the change is as minor as moving to a different apartment within the same complex, you must update your voter registration or re-register to vote. The Michigan Voter Registration Form is located under Election Documents. The form must be printed, completely filled out, signed, and mailed to the Delta Township Clerk’s Office at 7710 W. Saginaw Highway, Lansing, MI 48917.

Permanent Absent Voter List

The Delta Township Clerk’s Office maintains a Permanent Absent Voter List. The Permanent Absent Voter List is a list of voters who qualify under state law to vote by absentee ballot. All voters on the Permanent Absent Voter List are automatically sent an absentee ballot application for each election scheduled in Delta Township. However, the application for an absentee ballot must be completed for every election, required by Michigan Election Law in order to have ballot mailed to voter. To qualify you must be a registered voter at least 30 days prior to election, apply in writing for each election your requesting to vote by absentee ballot and attest to one of the following six reasons: (1) 60 years of age or more (2) Unable to vote without assistance (3) Expect to be absent from township entire time polls are open (4) In jail awaiting arraignment or trial (5) Appointed to work as an election inspector in precinct outside of your precinct of residency (6) Unable to attend polls due to religious beliefs. From this permanent absent voter list, absentee voter applications are mailed out for every election as required by Michigan Election Law. If you would like to be placed on our Permanent Absent Voter List, call the Delta Township Clerk’s Office at 323-8500 and request to be placed on the Permanent Absent Voter List or print and complete the Permanent Absent Voter List Request form under Election Document, and mail to: Delta Township Clerk’s Office, 7710 W. Saginaw Highway, Lansing, MI 48917. Voters are not automatically put on Permanent Absent Voter List when requesting absentee ballot for an election. Voter who would like to be placed on the permanent absent voter list MUST call the Clerk’s Office at 323-8500 and request to be placed on the list or fill out a form requesting to be added to the permanent absent voter list. Voters on list should also keep in mind that any address change made with voter registration will require a voter to re-apply by calling the Clerk’s Office or completing a new permanent absent voter list request from. The permanent absent voter list is based on a voter address and not voter name, therefore any address change made will remove the permanent absent voter status and voter must re-apply.

How to Request Absentee BallotIf you find that you will not be able to vote at the polls on Election Day all voters have the option of voting by absentee ballot. A request or application must be filed for all elections when voting by absentee ballot. The process is the same as voting at precinct, the voter must fill out application before receiving a ballot. To request an application the voter can either click the link under Election Documents for absentee ballot application, print, complete, and sign the application and mail or drop off to the Delta Township Clerk’s Office at 7710 W. Saginaw Highway or voter can call the Clerk’s Office at 323-8500 to request an application be mailed. Ballots are available 45 days prior to any scheduled election and applications can be requested and submitted 75 days prior to any election. If a voter will be out of town, the ballot can be mailed to an alternate address which should be indicated on their application when applying for a ballot. This option is great for college students or those voters out of state for months at a time. BALLOTS CANNOT BE FORWARDED so it is important that we have the correct “mailing address” to mail the ballot. If your address changes for any reason after you have submitted your application, which may happen with college students especially, contact the Clerk’s Office with your updated mailing address so that your ballot will be delivered without any delay.

Absentee Ballot FactsDid You Know! You can vote in every election by absentee ballot if you qualify and are eligible? You must be a registered voter at least 30 days prior to election and you must apply in writing for each election you request to vote absentee and attest to one of the following 6 reasons to vote by absentee ballot: 1) 60 years of age or more 2) unable to vote without assistance 3) expect to be absent from township entire time polls are open 4) in jail awaiting arraignment or trial 5) appointed to work as an election inspector in precinct outside of your precinct of residency and 6) unable to attend polls due to religious beliefs. If applying for absentee ballot in person at the Clerk’s Office photo identification is required. If voter has no photo identification voter will sign an affidavit of voter without photo identification prior to a ballot being issued. Un-voted ballots are only issued to voter when applying in person.

The Clerk’s Office must have a written request on file for every election before an absentee ballot can be issued. Voter may apply by application or send written letter with the following information: name, residential address, reason requesting absentee ballot, where ballot is to be mailed, date of election and signature of voter. You can apply by written request, application from your Clerk’s Office, fax, or scanned request transmitted via email. Faxed and emailed requests must show voter’s signature or request cannot be honored. Voter can file application up to 75 days prior to date of election.

If you have filed an application to receive absentee ballot with the clerk’s office a ballot will automatically be mailed when ballots are received (around 45 days prior to election). If you visit the Clerk’s Office to turn in application(s) or obtain ballot please be aware that we can only issue an un-voted ballot to voter requesting ballot. Keep this in mind when planning a trip or kids are off to college in another city or state. Under election law the voter must apply for the absentee ballot by signing his/her name to the application and ballot after voting. Also, under Michigan Election Law power of attorney rights are not permissible in regards to voting. Voter can have help in voting but the application for ballot and the actual ballot must be signed by voter.

Voters can apply for an absentee ballot through the mail up to the Saturday prior to each election. Absentee ballots can be requested in person at the Clerk’s Office until 4p.m. the Monday prior to each election. If voter requests ballot on Monday prior to the election, the voter must vote the ballot in the clerk’s office; voter is not permitted to leave the clerk’s office with ballot. If voter requests ballot prior to Monday before election voter can leave with ballot and return by Election Day to be counted.

Upon receipt of absentee ballot request the application must be verified. The signature appearing on the application is checked against the signature on applicant’s voter registration record and digital signature on file to verify applicant identity. If the signatures on file compared to application request do not match a letter will be sent to voter to request an updated signature and verify the applicant is applying for absentee ballot.

A request for absentee ballots is processed within 24 hours of receiving application, once ballots are received at the clerk’s office (approximately 45 days prior to election). Voters have approximately 6 weeks in which absentee ballots are available for voting during regular business hours of Monday – Friday 8a.m. – 5p.m., up until Monday prior to election. Voters may receive ballot through mail at residence, hospital, nursing home etc. within jurisdiction or at post office box if voter normally receives mail there. Voter can also receive ballot at address out of state or country if provided on application. If absentee voter receives assistance in voting their ballot, the individual who provided assistance must sign certificate that appears on outside of ballot return envelope.

Absentee ballots are returned to the Clerk’s Office by mail in envelope provided by Clerk’s office or in person. Voter must return ballot by 8 p.m. Election Day for ballot to be counted. If ballot is returned in envelope with a household member ballot it cannot be verified with application on file and will be invalidated. Absent Voter Ballots are not counted until Election Day and are kept in secure locked area when returned by voter until Election Day. It is important if voter makes mistake on ballot while voting at home to contact the Clerk’s Office in person or by phone to have ballot replaced. Don’t place note inside ballot as Township Clerk or staff do not open or process absentee ballots. Registered voters within State of Michigan, Township or County are appointed to our Absent Voter Counting Board in which ballots are processed and counted on Election Day.

Election inspectors at precincts and Absent Voter Counting Board are made up of State of Michigan, Township or County registered voters and are appointed by the Election Commission of Delta Township.

Military & Overseas Citizens Voter Empowerment Act (“MOVE” Act)

Registering to Vote and Applying for Absentee Ballot for Military and Overseas VotersThe following voters qualify under This Act: Active Uniformed Service and their Spouse and Dependents, and Merchant Marines stationed in the United States or overseas, and Civilians residing or temporarily overseas only.

The Move Act was signed into law in 2009 affording all active uniformed service, spouse, dependents, and merchant marine, stationed inside or outside the United States and civilians residing or temporarily located overseas the option of requesting an “electronic” absentee ballot to be emailed or faxed to voter. The voter must submit a FPCA form requesting ballot every calendar year (January 1 – December 31), and must be filled out in its entirety. The FPCA completed form can be e-mailed to deltatwp21520@deltami.gov or fax to 517-323-8599. The FPCA form used for this request is available at our website at www.deltami.gov/elections for your convenience. Additional information including contact information for Michigan’s city and township clerks, sample ballots for you to view for upcoming election or candidate/proposal information can be viewed through the Michigan Voter Information Center Web site maintained by the Michigan Department of State at www.michigan.gov/vote.

Michigan Voter Information Center

Michigan’s “Voter Information Center” is available online for all Michigan residents to utilize. The site provides residents information regarding their voter registration, polling location and election related information. Additional information available from the website includes:

Election Worker Information

Election WorkersDelta Township depends on residents to help in the election process. We are always looking for workers for our Precinct Polling Locations, Absent Voter Counting Board, Receiving Boards and extra office staff. These are paid positions and anyone interested should contact the Delta Township Clerk’s Office at 323-8500. If interested in working elections an application must be completed and returned on yearly basis. The election worker application is located under Election Documents. Print, complete application, sign, and return to the Delta Township Clerk’s Office at 7710 W. Saginaw Highway, Lansing, MI 48917

Precinct Location Information

Polling Locations

Precinct

Location

Address

1

St. Gerard Church

4437 West Willow Highway, Lansing

2

Delta Community Center Upstairs

7550 West Willow Highway, Lansing

3

Riverview Church West Venue

7533 West St. Joseph Highway, Lansing

4

Delta Township Fire Station

811 North Canal Road, Lansing

5

Delta Township Library

5130 Davenport Drive, Lansing

6

Delta Township Enrichment Center

4538 Elizabeth Road, Lansing

7

Faith Bible Church

5211 West St. Joseph Highway, Lansing

8

St. David’s Episcopal Church

1519 Elmwood Road, Lansing

9

Calvary Lutheran Church

6301 West St. Joseph Highway, Lansing

10

Riverview Church West Venue

7533 West St. Joseph Highway, Lansing

11

Grace Bible Church

1000 South Canal Road, Lansing

12

Our Savior Lutheran Church

7910 East St. Joseph Highway, Grand Ledge

13

Mt. Hope Church – Spyn Center

202 S. Creyts, Lansing

14

Community Baptist Church

7832 West Mt. Hope Highway, Grand Ledge

15

South Church

5250 Cornerstone Drive, Lansing

16

South Church

5250 Cornerstone Drive, Lansing

Election Documents

Picture ID Requirement when voting in MichiganMichigan voters who vote at the polls and absent voter ballot in person must comply with the requirement of showing picture identification. The most common sources of picture identification are your driver’s license or a state ID card. The following forms of picture identification may also be used as long as they are current:

Federal or state government-issued photo identification (Driver’s license or state identification card from any state).

U.S. passport

Military ID card with photo

Student ID card with photo from high school or an accredited institution of higher education

Tribal ID card with photo.

Voters without picture identification: Michigan election law anticipates that not all voters will have picture identification. Voters who do not bring picture identification to the polls or do not possess picture identification can vote like any other voters by signing an affidavit of voter not in possession of identification.